Ever since Kristina Bernadette Cojuangco Aquino became the celebrity known as Kris Aquino, she has constantly hogged the headlines. From being the central figure in a high-profile relationship that went awry, to being the subject of blind items and salacious gossip, Kris became synonymous with the “Queen of Talk” and a dominating force in media. The attention, admiration, perks, and privileges of being a star were something she lived for — and loved.

To many, Aquino is considered the nation’s “younger sister,” an adored distant cousin, a friend from afar whose stories amaze and amuse. Over time, she has evolved into an entertainment icon, savvy in both online and traditional media, a fashionista who adores haute couture, branded outfits, jewelry, properties, books and anything that screams, “I enjoy being a girl,” “I feel pretty,” and “Living in a material world, and I am a material girl.”

She is also a beloved daughter, a loving relative and the perfect mother to Joshua Aquino and James Yap Jr. She embodies the sentiment expressed in the iconic Broadway anthem: “I won’t forget, can’t regret what I did for love.”

However, her recent Instagram post, in which she revealed a “painful truth,” has stirred the emotions and thoughts of her public. Her online revelation quickly became a hot topic of conversation, shared over caramel macchiatos, French vanilla coffees, slices of blueberry cheesecake and decadent death-by-chocolate treats. It has divided Baby Boomers, Gen Xers and Millennials alike.

Love, love, love

The romantic episodes and dating history of Kris Aquino have always been filled with drama, intrigue and passion. From sweet and playful moments to jaw-dropping twists, her relationships have kept the public captivated.

She can make Snow White’s cheeks blush like an apple’s skin, turn Cinderella into a rebel by not following her fairy godmother’s instructions and risking staying past midnight, or even inspire Sleeping Beauty’s Aurora to elope with Prince Philip after a waltz in the forest. It’s clear why Ariel wanted to join “our world,” declaring to her father, King Triton, “Daddy, I love him!” And of course, the prince, Eric.

One of Aquino’s great loves was basketball superstar Alvin Patrimonio, whom she considered the one that got away. She later made headlines for her brief marriage to Robin Padilla, which even made the front page of a broadsheet. The relationship’s postscript included a notorious fistfight between Padilla and Richard Gomez inside the Malacañang Palace grounds. She later gave birth to a son out of wedlock, Joshua, with her “sperm donor,” actor Philip Salvador. On national television, she revealed that actor Joey Marquez had contracted a sexually transmitted disease. She didn’t sign a prenuptial agreement with James Yap, the love of her life with whom she had another son, James Jr., affectionately known as Bimby. There were also rumors that former Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista offered to marry her, and she was once engaged to Mel Senen Sarmiento. Despite struggling with life-threatening autoimmune diseases, she also had relationships with Batangas Vice Governor Marc Leviste and, more recently, Dr. Mike Padlan.